[font=georgia,serif][b]THE UK GOVERNMENT[/b] has shown it's at the forefront of modern technology and online services with its latest form for claiming benefits online.[/font]

[font=georgia,serif]Those who want to claim either Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance or Overseas State Pension can simply visit the [url="https://www.gov.uk/dla-disability-living-allowance-benefit"]Gov.UK[/url] website, where they are then pointed to the [url="http://www.dwp.gov.uk/eservice/"]Department of Work and Pensions[/url](DWP) website to fill out a form online.[/font]

[font=georgia,serif]So far, so impressive, in that the government is allowing citizens to apply for benefits over the web, rather than having to fill out forms and send them in via the post or visit offices in person.[/font]

[font=georgia,serif]However, it seems that many of those claimants could fall at the first hurdle due to some rather outdated stipluations about the computer systems supported by the DWP.[/font]

[font=georgia,serif]"This service doesn't work with some modern browsers and operating systems," the DWP notes. "We are considering how best to provide this service in future. You may want to claim in another way."[/font]

[font=georgia,serif]That is putting it mildly. Normally, we'd take the time to go through these system requirements and highlight only the most interesting points, but in this case we've decided to make an exception and post them here in their full glory, as we couldn't word them better than the DWP.[/font]

[font=georgia,serif]"The service does not work properly with Macs or other Unix-based systems even though you may be able to input information.[/font]

[font=georgia,serif]"You are likely to have problems if you use Internet Explorer 7, 8, 9 and 10, Windows Vista or a smartphone. Clearing temporary internet files may help but you may wish to claim in another way.[/font]

[font=georgia,serif]"There is also a high risk that if you use browsers not listed below, including Chrome, Safari or Firefox, the service will not display all the questions you need to answer. This is likely to prevent you from successfully completing or submitting the form. You may wish to claim in another way."[/font]

[font=georgia,serif]And now on to the much more restricted list of what your computer needs to be running if you actually want to claim a benefit online.[/font]

[font=georgia,serif]"The service was designed to work with the following operating systems and browsers. Many of these are no longer available:[/font][list]
[*][font=georgia,serif]Microsoft Windows 98: Internet Explorer versions 5.0.1, 5.5 and 6.0, Netscape 7.2[/font]
[*][font=georgia,serif]Microsoft Windows ME: Internet Explorer version 5.5 and 6.0, Netscape 7.2[/font]
[*][font=georgia,serif]Microsoft Windows 2000: Internet Explorer version 5.0.1, 5.5 and 6.0, Netscape 7.2, Firefox 1.0.3, Mozilla 1.7.7[/font]
[*][font=georgia,serif]Microsoft Windows XP: Internet Explorer 6.0, Netscape 7.2, Firefox 1.0.3, Mozilla 1.7.7."[/font]
[/list]
[font=georgia,serif]For the few of you out there wanting to claim benefits online who manage to dig out some old Windows machine from a basement or loft running an old enough version of IE or Firefox, there are further obstacles to getting any money out of the government.[/font]

[font=georgia,serif]"This service is not available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 1.00am to 1.30am because of essential maintenance work. We apologise for any inconvenience," warns the DWP.[/font]

[font=georgia,serif]Perhaps that's when their hamsters change shifts - you know, the ones that run inside wheels keeping government IT systems up and running.[/font]

[font=georgia,serif]We often speculate here at The INQUIRER that the government favours proprietary systems, and doesn't do enough to open up bid tenders to smaller suppliers and open source outfits. On the basis of the above evidence, we're concerned that the government is taking its mission to extremes.[/font]

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[quote name='n_K' timestamp='1367666927' post='595671806']
Lol oh wow, and you wonder why the gov'mt just lost loads of seats to UKIP, once again no surprise.
[/quote]

I think UKIP voters would struggle with a pen and paper let alone a computer. Having said that this is just about the funniest story I've read in a long time. If they were clever enough I'd say that that this is part of some Tory plot to undermine the welfare state but it's more likely to just be another example of this government's incompetence. Well done IDS.

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[quote name='leesmithg' timestamp='1367668307' post='595671824']
Welcome to the future and fiscal spending whilst the Labour party were in power.

Trust us they said, we know we didn't listen to you, we didn't serve you and we expected you to serve us, however we will sort it all out we PROMISE.

One c0ck-up after another.

Coalition should hurry up and sort out this problem, (in the voice of Barry The Baptist) QUICK!
[/quote]
Have you even used the abortion of a website gov.uk for job seekers now created for the current government?

Instead of filling a booklet in as to what jobs you want to sign up for you have to use a site called Universal Jobsmatch and it is AWFUL.

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[quote name='leesmithg' timestamp='1367668307' post='595671824']
Welcome to the future and fiscal spending whilst the Labour party were in power.

Trust us they said, we know we didn't listen to you, we didn't serve you and we expected you to serve us, however we will sort it all out we PROMISE.

One c0ck-up after another.

Coalition should hurry up and sort out this problem, (in the voice of Barry The Baptist) QUICK!
[/quote]
Yeah right, let me correct your pretty awful memory.
Labour came up with the PM petitions which worked in all browsers and was hastially closed by the tories because they don't give a **** what you think.
Tories answer is to come up with this pathetic excuse of a site?
yeh m8 better go vote for dem tories dey r wel c00l init

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[quote name='n_K' timestamp='1367679670' post='595672026']
Yeah right, let me correct your pretty awful memory.
Labour came up with the PM petitions which worked in all browsers and was hastially closed by the tories because they don't give a **** what you think.
Tories answer is to come up with this pathetic excuse of a site?
yeh m8 better go vote for dem tories dey r wel c00l init
[/quote]
Actually, the PM petitions site is still up and running: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/ - But you are right in that they don't give a **** what we think. The petitions seem to have a better chance of succeeding anyway if they're over on 38 Degrees, or Avaaz, or Change.org.

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We have benefits programs that you can apply for online, but it supports up to Windows 8, OS X 10.8.X, and Linux, across Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer 10... It complains when Chrome is used, but it allows it to work. This is in our local state, in the US, though, as each State in the U.S. handles benefits separately.

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[quote name='Azies' timestamp='1367692338' post='595672244']
We have benefits programs that you can apply for online, but it supports up to Windows 8, OS X 10.8.X, and Linux, across Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer 10... It complains when Chrome is used, but it allows it to work. This is in our local state, in the US, though, as each State in the U.S. handles benefits separately.
[/quote]

But you don't have Marmite while laughing at your citizens.

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It's rather shocking that any website could be so restrictive, let alone one which is crucial to so many people. There is simply no excuse for such limitations and one has to question the competence of the people running it.

However, it should be pointed out that DLA is being replaced by PIP and that should be available through the Gov.uk website, which has [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22164715"]won awards[/url] for design. The biggest problem with government websites has been that they've all been run by different departments with different levels of funding and different expectations, meaning that the quality of the websites varies wildly - Gov.uk is the first attempt to centralise them and I've personally found it to be very useful.

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[quote name='theyarecomingforyou' timestamp='1367752866' post='595673048']
The biggest problem with government websites has been that they've all been run by different departments with different levels of funding and different expectations, meaning that the quality of the websites varies wildly - Gov.uk is the first attempt to centralise them and I've personally found it to be very useful.
[/quote]
I thought that was done when Directgov was launched back in 2004? Which is now Gov.uk.

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Talk about sensationalism. When I was unemployed I used their horrendous web site on a multitude of different devices, operating systems and browsers. The web site is garbage, but it is perfectly functional, one of the main issues I had with being unemployed was trying to "work" with the desk monkeys in the Job Centre and their outdated systems. Half of them are incapable of simple data input, and everything they use is so outdated that it becomes a nightmare if you have to deliver something to them electronically.

Nothing frustrated me more being unemployed than paying my fortnightly visit to see the mentally inept dribblers that staff the British Job Centres. Especially when they'd put their Sherlock Holmes cap on and start playing detective trying to trip you up about your job searching, then 2 minutes later some scum bag still mashed from the night before would saunter in, say three words and head back to his pit no questions asked. You're just like "Hang on, you'll grill the person who could replace you in a heart beat and is actually searching for a job, but when Smackhead Sally and his entourage of baby-strollers turn up toting McDonald's bags and knock-off cigarettes, he gets a free pass?!"